Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip – Hiba Musbah has endured seven rounds of chemotherapy for breast cancer, with her eighth scheduled for next week. The 36-year-old mother of three from eastern Deir el-Balah says her health has declined further as she awaits approval to leave Gaza for more comprehensive treatment.
“My son has taken on the role of caretaker,” she told Al Jazeera, as her husband, Motaz, who suffers from a heart condition, has also had to assume extra responsibilities for their children—Mohammed, 13, Jaber, 10, and Ahmad, eight.
Musbah first detected lumps in her right breast in January 2024, shortly after the escalation of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Initially dismissing them due to the chaos surrounding her displacement, she eventually sought medical help at her mother’s insistence.
Doctors confirmed it was cancer, but despite the urgent need for surgery, she faced a two-month delay because of Israeli military activity around the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where she was being treated. “I postponed the operation due to the war. The last time, I nearly died from a tank shell,” she said.
Her chemotherapy was also delayed for seven months because of medication shortages at Nasser Hospital. Musbah’s situation highlights the challenges faced by many women in Gaza battling breast cancer, as the ongoing conflict and blockade have significantly hampered the healthcare system’s ability to provide necessary diagnoses and treatment.
Shortages of essential medicines, malfunctioning diagnostic equipment, and the unavailability of radiotherapy have compounded the struggle against cancer amidst Gaza’s intensifying health crisis.
The lack of access to diagnostic tools like CT scans has caused Musbah considerable anxiety. She needs a new scan to monitor her condition but cannot afford the £48 fee at a private hospital, where waiting times can stretch to over three months. “I’m in pain, and I haven’t had a scan in three months,” she said. “My doctor is worried the disease could be spreading.”
Musbah also suffers from mobility issues and continuous pain as her condition worsens. After waiting two years for approval to leave Gaza for treatment, she still has not received the necessary clearance from Israeli authorities. “I want to travel, receive treatment and regain my health,” she expressed.
The Gaza Ministry of Health reported about 360 new breast cancer cases annually before the war. However, this figure may not accurately represent current reality, as many women remain undiagnosed due to the collapse of screening services. The ministry highlighted repeated breakdowns of mammography machines and a lack of laboratory supplies, with surgery for advanced tumours also halted due to the absence of specialised capabilities.
Dr Iman al-Haj Ahmad, an obstetrician and fellow breast cancer patient, understands these barriers. Diagnosed in May 2025, she recounts the difficulty in accessing diagnostic services. “If it was this hard for me, how much harder is it for those without my connections?” she asked.
Before the war, women could receive initial examinations at primary healthcare centres, but now, diagnostic services are severely limited. Al-Haj Ahmad, who endured significant weight loss and health deterioration due to chemotherapy and food shortages, continues to assist women in seeking medical referrals.
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and health workers in Gaza have launched initiatives to educate women about breast cancer and encourage self-examinations under the campaign “pink blooms from among the rubble.” Despite the challenges, community health supervisor Sabreen al-Buhaisi reported screening between 700 and 800 women during the campaign but emphasised that financial barriers impede many families from seeking private care.
Despite her struggles and two-year wait for treatment approval, Musbah remains determined to care for her children. The evacuation process for patients is coordinated through the World Health Organization and the Gaza Ministry of Health, but each application must clear Israeli security checks. “I’ve been waiting for two years,” Musbah lamented. “And I still haven’t travelled.”
